Becoming a Drug Addiction Treatment Counsellor after Drug Rehab

It’s one of the most common paths for recovering addicts to choose for their lives after they successfully completet a drug and alcohol addiction rehab program: becoming a drug rehab counsellor. Equipped with the first-hand experience of how easy it is to develop an addiction and how hard it is to successfully combat the problem; all the recovering addict is missing is the required education and certification.

But is it a good idea for someone in recovery to become a drug addiction treatment counsellor after attending drug rehab? What are the pro and contras?

Pro of Choosing Drug Addiction Treatment Counselling as a Career

You know the ropes of treatment. You know what it’s like to be an addict. You know the ploys and manipulations that are common among patients who are trying to fool themselves into thinking that using or drinking “just once” isn’t that big of a deal – you may have tried a few of those games yourself. You’ve got “street cred” if you’ve spent years with an active addiction and this can be extremely valuable in getting through to people who need help.

Another plus: the education you need to get started working at a rehabilitation facility with minimal responsibility is a certification that often takes just a couple of years to acquire. The classes may also serve to help you remain dedicated and focused on your own recovery, a requirement if you’re going to work in substance abuse treatment.

Cons of Choosing Drug Addiction Treatment Counselling as a Career

It’s not always the best choice for people in early recovery (the first couple of months) to spend so much time around active addicts. In some cases, new counsellors with a long drug addiction history may be more likely to be influenced by the former addicts they are meant to be helping to sobriety than the other way around.

Whether or not the job of drug addiction treatment counsellor is right for you will depend upon you, your personality, your long-term goals for yourself, and your ability to prioritize your sobriety even when the job gets stressful.